City officials say the petition sought by Friends of Congress Square Park was denied because, under the city charter, citizen initiatives can apply only to legislative matters, not administrative ones.

The city of Portland has rejected a petition request by a group seeking a city-wide vote on a measure that would prevent the sale and development of the Congress Square Park plaza - and 30 other city spaces - to a hotel developer.

City officials say the petition was denied because, under the city charter, citizen initiatives can apply only to legislative matters, not administrative ones, and that decisions about sale of city property can only be made by the City Council.

The group, Friends of Congress Square Park, is taking issue with a proposal by hotel developer Rockbridge Capital to purchase two-thirds of the public plaza adjoining its Western Harborview Hotel in the city's downtown and turn it into an event space.

Friends of Congress Square Park sought permission for a city-wide vote on a plan to put the plaza and 30 other city properties into a "Land Bank" that would have jurisdiction over the public spaces.